Abstract [en]

A tetraquinoxaline cavitand functionalized with methylenoxy bridges at the upper rim is proposed as selective solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coating for the determination of BTEX at trace levels in air. The SPME fibers were characterized in terms of film thickness, morphology, thermal stability and extraction capabilities. An average coating thickness of 35 (±4) μm, a thermal stability up to 350 °C and a good fiber-to-fiber and batch-to-batch repeatability with RSD lower than 15% were obtained. Excellent enrichment factors ranging from 360–700 × 103 were obtained for the investigated compounds. Finally, method validation proved the capabilities of the developed coating for the selective sampling of BTEX, achieving LOD values in the 0.4–1.2 ng m−3 range.

Abstract [en]

Mass spectrometry (MS) is used in several fields, e.g. biology, environmental monitoring, medicine and forensics due to excellent qualitative and quantitative capabilities. The development of new instrumental setups and ionization sources is crucial to analyze a variety of compounds at trace levels. The synergy between material science and analytical chemistry allowed the development of new materials characterized by specific features of polarity, porosity and functionalization, able to interact with targeted analytes in complex matrices, resulting in high extraction efficiency even in presence of overwhelming amounts of interfering compounds. New methods based on the use of new materials and MS techniques for analytes extraction and detection have been proposed, providing fast analysis times, enhanced selectivity and increased sensitivity.

In this thesis, the development of new materials and setups for mass spectrometric applications is discussed.

In Paper I-III the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the analytical performances of four new supramolecular receptors for targeted extraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) are reported. The synthesized materials were used as solid-phase microextraction coatings (SPME) for the GC-MS determination of BTEX at trace levels in urban air. In addition, a portable device for in-situ and real-time monitoring of BTEX using these receptors in the preconcentration unit is presented.

In Paper IV the development of coated ion sources able to improve the performances of an interface coupling liquid chromatography (LC) and electron ionization (EI), called Direct-EI LC-MS, is discussed. The coatings, obtained by sol-gel technique, were deposited onto commercial stainless steel EI sources to increase the inertness of its vaporization surface.

In Paper V, a rapid screening method for the detection of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in oral fluids is presented. New slides based on polylactide (PLLA), carbon particles and silica were tested as probe materials to promote the ionization of the analytes in desorption electrospray ionization – high resolution mass spectrometry (DESI-HRMS). Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) of the analytes from the saliva samples was required due to the high signal suppression. The developed MEPS-DESI-HRMS method was validated and applied for the determination of NPS in road-collected samples.

In Paper VI the development of a new setup called solvent assisted paper spray ionization (SAPSI) is reported. This integrated solution allowed the increased data acquisition time and a close control over the ionization conditions. It was applied for the analysis of biomolecules, namely proteins, lipids, glycans, and amyloid peptides/aggregates, in aqueous solution as well as in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Different oligomeric species of amyloid aggregates were detected and it was possible to perform real-time monitoring of disaggregation processes. Modified protein species of physiological relevance such as oxidation, cysteinylation, glycosylation and glycation, and adduct formation were identified.

In conclusion, the new materials and setups discussed in this thesis allowed the development of selective and sensitive MS methods for the determination of different target compounds in complex matrices at trace levels with reduced sample pretreatment.